Vermeil adds 2 years to contract

The 67-year-old Vermeil told The Associated Press on Thursday that he doubted very much he would coach into his 70s.

The contract signing was a formality. Vermeil told the AP on Jan. 1 that he had informed his staff and Chiefs president Carl Peterson of his decision to remain for at least one and possibly two more years.

Terms of the new contract were not announced. Vermeil signed a three-year, $10 million deal in 2001.

Vermeil also said he was not close to deciding on a defensive coordinator to replace Greg Robinson, who resigned Tuesday.

JETS: Coach Herman Edwards received a two-year contract extension despite finishing with the team's worst record since 1996.

Though terms were not disclosed, Edwards had two years left on his deal worth about $1.3 million annually. The extension keeps him with the Jets through 2007.

Edwards is 25-23 in three seasons with the Jets. He went 6-10 this season after losing quarterback Chad Pennington for the first six games of the season with a broken left wrist.

"We have a good foundation with some young players, that's how you have to look at it," Edwards said. "We stumbled this year, we didn't have the year we wanted, but now it's a new year and we're going to try to do a lot better than we did last year."

The Jets made the playoffs in Edwards' first two seasons as coach and won the AFC East in 2002. The extension gives him the ability to keep building the Jets. Next up on the agenda should be securing an extension for Pennington, and either defensive ends Shaun Ellis or John Abraham.

"It sends a message to our football team that I wanted to be here for a long time," Edwards said. "This is the only team I want to coach for. People say that, but I mean that. It gives us the ability to go out and do some things and build on what we've already built on the last three years."

FALCONS: Tim Ruskell joined the team as assistant general manager after working the past 17 years in Tampa Bay's front office.

Ruskell served as the Buccaneers' director of player personnel since the start of 2001. He rejoins Rich McKay, who resigned as Tampa Bay GM last month to become president and GM of the Falcons.

EAGLES: Defensive tackle Corey Simon was added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster in place of the injured Warren Sapp.